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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
"I know what they think because she whispers their thoughts into my ear. I can hear them. Clearly. Constantly.
"'If I ever look like that, just kill me.'
Her name is Skinny."
Skinny has been the voice in Ever's head for years. She showed up after Ever's mother died and she started to gain weight. In the years since then, Skinny has only gotten worse--always quick to share the nasty thoughts everyone has for the pathetically fat girl.
Ever is fifteen years old and 302 pounds.
After one too many embarrassments at school, and far too many hopes being drowned out by Skinny's poison, Ever makes a life-changing decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery--a risky procedure that could finally help Ever regain control of her weight provided she doesn't fall victim to any of the dangerous complications.
As Ever starts to lose weight she allows herself to imagine a different life for herself: one where people don't notice her because of her weight but because of her magnificent singing voice. One where she isn't always on the periphery, alone.
But even as that life starts to seem possible, Skinny is still there telling Ever each and every thing that's still wrong with her. If Ever really wants to take center stage in her own life, she'll have to confront the toxic voice in her head first in Skinny (2012) by Donna Crooner.
Skinny is Crooner's first novel. A gastric bypass patient herself, Skinny is also partially inspired by Crooner's own experiences with the procedure.
Novels about characters with body image issues are hard. They are hard to read and they are hard to write. With such a fraught topic, everyone is going to have baggage of some sort that will affect their reading of the story. Having been overweight myself in high school, I'm no exception. I was very wary going into Skinny, unsure of what to expect or how I would feel about what I read.
At 272 pages (hardcover), Skinny is a short book. For that reason, I'm willing to let a lot of things slide. The quick transition from Ever's daily life to Ever getting the surgery. The abrupt shift from fat girl to not fat girl. Even the piecemeal information presented about life after the procedure.*
The story picks up after the surgery when Ever, with Rat's invaluable assistance, starts the long process of recovery. I love a story where a character has to learn to re-engage with the world. And if anyone needs to re-engage, it's Ever. Watching her subtle changes in self-perception and interaction with people at school is satisfying storytelling at its best.
That said, Skinny does have its share of frustrating moments.** While Ever's transformation feels authentic (to the point that it reminded me of what it was like when I was heavier in high school), the sequence of events bothered me. We always know that Ever is going to have the surgery--it's key to the plot and the story's forward motion. It is important for Ever's health. All of that is fine.
The problem comes when all of Ever's friends and acquaintances start to interact with her and tell her how great she is as a person after she starts to lose weight. Everyone claims they liked Ever before but, with the notable exception of Rat, no one else makes an effort to stay close to Ever--in a sense not even her own family--when Ever is heavy.***
Skinny's strength is in Ever and her voice throughout the story. With a passion for musicals and a love of the stories they tell, Ever is a multi-faceted character. She is never just a fat girl and I appreciated that as a reader. Characterization of Ever's best friend, Rat (who is fantastic in a mad genius/juvenile delinquent kind of way) and family are also handled well. (I was especially fond of the quirky small town Ever calls home and would have loved a bit more about the setting throughout the story.)
With a school musical sub-plot and just the barest hints of romance, Skinny is a strong, entertaining book ideal for readers looking for a novel with an emphasis on the "young" instead of the "adult" in "young adult."
Possible Pairings: The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen, Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg, Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart, Fix by Leslie Margolis, Fracture by Megan Miranda, My Big Nose and Other (Natural) Disasters by Sydney Salter, How To Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
*It wasn't really key to the plot but I would have liked more consistent information about what Ever needed to do post-op. Ever is mostly in a daze reading all of the information to avoid overwhelming readers with extraneous text but I am still left wondering how the surgery is going to impact Ever's life further down the line.
**Early on, Ever comments that there are no musical parts for overweight girls. And, I mean, that is partially true in that most plays do not make a point of mentioning a characters weight. But it also ignores Hairspray! And, worse, saying there are no parts for overweight girls feels tantamount to saying there are no parts for tall girls or Asian girls or dark-haired girls, etc. I know part of this was Ever's own self-esteem issues but, come on. Musicals are tweaked all the time to accommodate actors who may not fit the "traditional" perception of a character's appearance. Crooner also laid in a lot of details to suggest that Ever's weight problem ties back to her own mother's weight issues but these breadcrumbs never lead to a big revelation--instead they just sit there and Ever confronts Skinny without addressing what might be the underlying problem.
***Granted, Ever's own self-esteem and image issues are obviously at work in pushing people away. But I would have really liked just one other character to tell Ever she was okay and lovable without the surgery. (It isn't this novel's fault, but I really don't think there are enough books in the world with positive, engaged, characters who fall outside normative body shapes. Skinny begins to hint at that but the novel is practically finished by then. And thanks to the surgery, Ever is much more closer to those norms herself.)
*This book was acquired for review from the publisher at BEA 2012*
"'If I ever look like that, just kill me.'
Her name is Skinny."
Skinny has been the voice in Ever's head for years. She showed up after Ever's mother died and she started to gain weight. In the years since then, Skinny has only gotten worse--always quick to share the nasty thoughts everyone has for the pathetically fat girl.
Ever is fifteen years old and 302 pounds.
After one too many embarrassments at school, and far too many hopes being drowned out by Skinny's poison, Ever makes a life-changing decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery--a risky procedure that could finally help Ever regain control of her weight provided she doesn't fall victim to any of the dangerous complications.
As Ever starts to lose weight she allows herself to imagine a different life for herself: one where people don't notice her because of her weight but because of her magnificent singing voice. One where she isn't always on the periphery, alone.
But even as that life starts to seem possible, Skinny is still there telling Ever each and every thing that's still wrong with her. If Ever really wants to take center stage in her own life, she'll have to confront the toxic voice in her head first in Skinny (2012) by Donna Crooner.
Skinny is Crooner's first novel. A gastric bypass patient herself, Skinny is also partially inspired by Crooner's own experiences with the procedure.
Novels about characters with body image issues are hard. They are hard to read and they are hard to write. With such a fraught topic, everyone is going to have baggage of some sort that will affect their reading of the story. Having been overweight myself in high school, I'm no exception. I was very wary going into Skinny, unsure of what to expect or how I would feel about what I read.
At 272 pages (hardcover), Skinny is a short book. For that reason, I'm willing to let a lot of things slide. The quick transition from Ever's daily life to Ever getting the surgery. The abrupt shift from fat girl to not fat girl. Even the piecemeal information presented about life after the procedure.*
The story picks up after the surgery when Ever, with Rat's invaluable assistance, starts the long process of recovery. I love a story where a character has to learn to re-engage with the world. And if anyone needs to re-engage, it's Ever. Watching her subtle changes in self-perception and interaction with people at school is satisfying storytelling at its best.
That said, Skinny does have its share of frustrating moments.** While Ever's transformation feels authentic (to the point that it reminded me of what it was like when I was heavier in high school), the sequence of events bothered me. We always know that Ever is going to have the surgery--it's key to the plot and the story's forward motion. It is important for Ever's health. All of that is fine.
The problem comes when all of Ever's friends and acquaintances start to interact with her and tell her how great she is as a person after she starts to lose weight. Everyone claims they liked Ever before but, with the notable exception of Rat, no one else makes an effort to stay close to Ever--in a sense not even her own family--when Ever is heavy.***
Skinny's strength is in Ever and her voice throughout the story. With a passion for musicals and a love of the stories they tell, Ever is a multi-faceted character. She is never just a fat girl and I appreciated that as a reader. Characterization of Ever's best friend, Rat (who is fantastic in a mad genius/juvenile delinquent kind of way) and family are also handled well. (I was especially fond of the quirky small town Ever calls home and would have loved a bit more about the setting throughout the story.)
With a school musical sub-plot and just the barest hints of romance, Skinny is a strong, entertaining book ideal for readers looking for a novel with an emphasis on the "young" instead of the "adult" in "young adult."
Possible Pairings: The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen, Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg, Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart, Fix by Leslie Margolis, Fracture by Megan Miranda, My Big Nose and Other (Natural) Disasters by Sydney Salter, How To Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
*It wasn't really key to the plot but I would have liked more consistent information about what Ever needed to do post-op. Ever is mostly in a daze reading all of the information to avoid overwhelming readers with extraneous text but I am still left wondering how the surgery is going to impact Ever's life further down the line.
**Early on, Ever comments that there are no musical parts for overweight girls. And, I mean, that is partially true in that most plays do not make a point of mentioning a characters weight. But it also ignores Hairspray! And, worse, saying there are no parts for overweight girls feels tantamount to saying there are no parts for tall girls or Asian girls or dark-haired girls, etc. I know part of this was Ever's own self-esteem issues but, come on. Musicals are tweaked all the time to accommodate actors who may not fit the "traditional" perception of a character's appearance. Crooner also laid in a lot of details to suggest that Ever's weight problem ties back to her own mother's weight issues but these breadcrumbs never lead to a big revelation--instead they just sit there and Ever confronts Skinny without addressing what might be the underlying problem.
***Granted, Ever's own self-esteem and image issues are obviously at work in pushing people away. But I would have really liked just one other character to tell Ever she was okay and lovable without the surgery. (It isn't this novel's fault, but I really don't think there are enough books in the world with positive, engaged, characters who fall outside normative body shapes. Skinny begins to hint at that but the novel is practically finished by then. And thanks to the surgery, Ever is much more closer to those norms herself.)
*This book was acquired for review from the publisher at BEA 2012*
this was such a good book. the message says that u have to have confidence and no matter what u look like there is always someone who loves u.
I like this book because it really goes along with the quote: " Don't judge a book by it's cover." I also like how it is a book about learning to have confidence in yourself and about learning to love who you are. :-)
I've never before read a book where the main character was so unapologetically, obviously, without question, the worst person in the whole book.
Ever is 15 and weighs 302 pounds (for me and every other metric user out there, that's about 137kg). She has a voice in her head called Skinny, which tells her what everyone thinks about her, and it's always bad. Ever is truly convinced that everyone, her Dad, her best friend Rat, her step-sister Briella, the boy she used to be almost dating, everyone at school, thinks she's an ugly freak. She gets a special surgery that causes her to lose weight, so she can a) fit in easier, b) have a chance with the cute boy at school, and c) participate in the upcoming school play.
And things start to change.
But not because she starts to lose weight (although it does discuss the very real, practical benefits of not being obese).
Because her problems weren't caused by her being obese.
It was because she assumed everyone hated her.
It is genuinely so enjoyable to watch Ever realise that the way people actually act towards her (when she isn't being a judgemental jerk and assuming everyone hates her) doesn't remotely fit with what Skinny says they're thinking.
Sure, some real jerks are out there, but most people didn't talk to her because she completely ignored them. She was too absorbed with her self-doubt and hate to notice that they didn't care if she was fat. My favourite moment of this is during drama class, when Ever is acting. Gigi, a girl Ever had never spoken to, later tells Ever that she looked different on stage, she usually looks so "quiet and..." Skinny finishes Gigi's statement "fat," but Gigi says angry. Skinny tries to say that Gigi always hated Ever, that she still hates Ever, but Ever realises she and Gigi have never actually talked before, and that was something that Ever chose just as much as Gigi.
The book continues like this, that Briella didn't dislike her, Ever was always just so angry and defensive they never had a remote chance of getting along. Her stepmother was concerned about her weight, but she was never ashamed of her. Jackson didn't start ignoring her, she started ignoring Jackson because of everything Skinny told her he was thinking. Some of the kids at school did mock her, but they didn't all spend every moment of every day thinking about how disgusting she was.
In the dramatic climax, Ever has a reckoning with Skinny. She forces Skinny to reveal herself, and Skinny is just her. Skinny is Ever, and Skinny is blind (mildly frustrated with the ableism, but the symbolism works). Ever verbally subdues Skinny and sees her value.
Anyway, this book is a study on how self-hate, anger, and walking in rejection lead to actual rejection and self-isolation and how it sometimes takes another person's perspective to see how flawed your worldview was.
There are other things I want to say, but this is already absurdly long, just read it.
CW: self-image problems, obesity, surgery, eating disorders, death, grief
Ever is 15 and weighs 302 pounds (for me and every other metric user out there, that's about 137kg). She has a voice in her head called Skinny, which tells her what everyone thinks about her, and it's always bad. Ever is truly convinced that everyone, her Dad, her best friend Rat, her step-sister Briella, the boy she used to be almost dating, everyone at school, thinks she's an ugly freak. She gets a special surgery that causes her to lose weight, so she can a) fit in easier, b) have a chance with the cute boy at school, and c) participate in the upcoming school play.
And things start to change.
But not because she starts to lose weight (although it does discuss the very real, practical benefits of not being obese).
Because her problems weren't caused by her being obese.
It was because she assumed everyone hated her.
It is genuinely so enjoyable to watch Ever realise that the way people actually act towards her (when she isn't being a judgemental jerk and assuming everyone hates her) doesn't remotely fit with what Skinny says they're thinking.
Sure, some real jerks are out there, but most people didn't talk to her because she completely ignored them. She was too absorbed with her self-doubt and hate to notice that they didn't care if she was fat. My favourite moment of this is during drama class, when Ever is acting. Gigi, a girl Ever had never spoken to, later tells Ever that she looked different on stage, she usually looks so "quiet and..." Skinny finishes Gigi's statement "fat," but Gigi says angry. Skinny tries to say that Gigi always hated Ever, that she still hates Ever, but Ever realises she and Gigi have never actually talked before, and that was something that Ever chose just as much as Gigi.
The book continues like this, that Briella didn't dislike her, Ever was always just so angry and defensive they never had a remote chance of getting along. Her stepmother was concerned about her weight, but she was never ashamed of her. Jackson didn't start ignoring her, she started ignoring Jackson because of everything Skinny told her he was thinking. Some of the kids at school did mock her, but they didn't all spend every moment of every day thinking about how disgusting she was.
In the dramatic climax, Ever has a reckoning with Skinny. She forces Skinny to reveal herself, and Skinny is just her. Skinny is Ever, and Skinny is blind (mildly frustrated with the ableism, but the symbolism works). Ever verbally subdues Skinny and sees her value.
Anyway, this book is a study on how self-hate, anger, and walking in rejection lead to actual rejection and self-isolation and how it sometimes takes another person's perspective to see how flawed your worldview was.
There are other things I want to say, but this is already absurdly long, just read it.
CW: self-image problems, obesity, surgery, eating disorders, death, grief
Rating - 2.5
Format - Audiobook
This gets a bonus half-star as the author acknowledges that Ever has some unadmirable traits that leads to the reason why she is so “alone”.
I had a big problem with Ever. As a character she’s perceived as being “alone and hurt, because she is overweight”. However, that’s really not the reason at all. She super judgemental and mean; from the first chapter she was making fun of how others looked in her class even though the whole point of the story is “don’t tease the fat kid”. She appears to grow by the end of the novel, but not really. She’s still just as selfish and rude, but this time - more open about it. She’s constantly saying how she’s better than everyone but then the next sentence she’ll be all “poor me, I’m fat”. It just wasn’t right.
This is meant to be a loose Cinderella retelling which I didn’t realise until the end, so boo on that front.
One thing I did really like though was;
Also the narrators voice was just irritating and I didn’t like the way this was written either, too many “it is” and “I am”s rather than “it’s” and “I’m”s.
I’m upset because this has been popping up around the place for years and I felt so accomplished for finally picking it up. What a waste.
Format - Audiobook
This gets a bonus half-star as the author acknowledges that Ever has some unadmirable traits that leads to the reason why she is so “alone”.
I had a big problem with Ever. As a character she’s perceived as being “alone and hurt, because she is overweight”. However, that’s really not the reason at all. She super judgemental and mean; from the first chapter she was making fun of how others looked in her class even though the whole point of the story is “don’t tease the fat kid”. She appears to grow by the end of the novel, but not really. She’s still just as selfish and rude, but this time - more open about it. She’s constantly saying how she’s better than everyone but then the next sentence she’ll be all “poor me, I’m fat”. It just wasn’t right.
This is meant to be a loose Cinderella retelling which I didn’t realise until the end, so boo on that front.
One thing I did really like though was;
Spoiler
the revelation of “Skinny” to be a blind version of herself. It spoke wonders and was really admirable as both a symbol and review of character.Also the narrators voice was just irritating and I didn’t like the way this was written either, too many “it is” and “I am”s rather than “it’s” and “I’m”s.
I’m upset because this has been popping up around the place for years and I felt so accomplished for finally picking it up. What a waste.
This book is more than about weight loss and body image. It's more than about trying to please other people by changing yourself. This book... it's about how the voices inside you can control you to the point of such self-hatred that it can literally destroy your life, and how it's only when you acknowledge that and learn to ignore those voices that you can move forward and live a better life. This book made me realise how unhealthy it is to let the voices in my head, the ones telling me I'm stupid, or fat, or ugly, affect me. In a way, I already knew these things, but this book was still a big eye-opener for me, and it really resonated in me, just like I hope it will in you.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this one. Even with its sad material, I liked to see the change in Ever. She grows throughout this book immensely. There's little to no swearing if I remember correctly, and there's no sexual content, so this is pretty decent for even the younger set. Ever is a smart girl, but she's confused and bullied because of her weight. She decides on gastric bypass surgery to help her lose weight because she's very heavy for her age and height. This is her journey. It's pretty inspirational with her bravery and courage. I'd recommend this one because it's a fairly short, quick read with some hope and inspiration. Enjoy!
I enjoyed this one. Even with its sad material, I liked to see the change in Ever. She grows throughout this book immensely. There's little to no swearing if I remember correctly, and there's no sexual content, so this is pretty decent for even the younger set. Ever is a smart girl, but she's confused and bullied because of her weight. She decides on gastric bypass surgery to help her lose weight because she's very heavy for her age and height. This is her journey. It's pretty inspirational with her bravery and courage. I'd recommend this one because it's a fairly short, quick read with some hope and inspiration. Enjoy!
This is an amazing story of a girl who undergoes a gigantic transformation both physically and emotionally. This book speaks to anyone who has felt left-out, unloved, or invisible.
The synopsis of this book caught my eye, because let's face it; I'm fat. I always have been, both due to my genetic make-up and the fact that I adore chocolate cake. Last summer, I started dieting, and lost a stone pretty quickly. However, the pressure of exams and stress started to pile on, and I'm slowly gaining the weight back; it's not as easy as it looks folks, and Skinny seemed like it'd address the difficult side of weight loss.
As the reader, I immediately felt a connection to Ever and Skinny. Whenever I overeat, I know I'm doing it, but I can't seem to help myself, and afterwards I have this horrible voice in my head telling me what a mistake it all was, and cramming all these different insecurities into me. Cooner portrayed the unspoken idea perfectly, and I think she managed to perfectly grasp the pressure teenagers are under about their looks and weight, and how much grief we give ourselves for doing little things, like eating a candy bar.
Although I could relate to Ever, I hated how self-obsessed she was. Everything rotated around her, and she showed a blatant disregard for everyone else. Yes, I knew Skinny was there, fuelling her self-hatred, but she really was oblivious to everyone else's feelings, and just felt sorry for herself. Other characters had a pretty bad, too, and I don't think that was highlighted enough. It also annoyed me at the end when she was suddenly this gorgeous, thin girl with this amazing voice - and she completely believed it. Instead of being wrapped up in self-hatred, she was blinded by how changed she was, and all she seemed to go on about was how "pretty" she was and how her singing voice was so fabulous and ugh. I hate characters who are gorgeous and are totally aware of it but pretend not to be. I'm sure the point of it was to show the slow progression from hating to loving herself, but it was just annoying in the end.
However, I loved the characterisation of Rat. Oh my god, he was the most adorable thing. I think Cooner characterised the ultimate best friend - nerdy, but wonderful. He adored Ever from start to finish, and I honestly think he had the patience of a Saint. She was so horrible to him, and he didn't even flinch. A tad bit unrealistic, but with quite a realistic and scary subject matter, I suppose a little lack of realism is good.
Although I think Cooner tackled the topic of weight well, along with the reaction of the high school students (when she was fat, everyone ignored her; she loses weight and she is suddenly a somebody. Sad, but realistic), the message she was trying to send didn't sit so well with me. Gastric bypass surgery is a pretty big thing, and although I know she was drawing from her own experiences, I thought it was a bad message to send out - that you need this surgery to lose weight and to improve your life. It isn't true. Ever constantly snacked throughout any diet, which was why it didn't work, and I don't think that was made clear enough. If you eat healthily and do exercise, you will lose weight, and I would have much rather read a book sending out that message, rather than that the easiest option is surgery.
Overall, it was good - Cooner clearly and cleverly portrayed the thoughts of teenagers and how negative we can be about ourselves and our appearances. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, as I think I wanted to feel the revelation and the change alongside Ever, which I didn't - but it was still good.
As the reader, I immediately felt a connection to Ever and Skinny. Whenever I overeat, I know I'm doing it, but I can't seem to help myself, and afterwards I have this horrible voice in my head telling me what a mistake it all was, and cramming all these different insecurities into me. Cooner portrayed the unspoken idea perfectly, and I think she managed to perfectly grasp the pressure teenagers are under about their looks and weight, and how much grief we give ourselves for doing little things, like eating a candy bar.
Although I could relate to Ever, I hated how self-obsessed she was. Everything rotated around her, and she showed a blatant disregard for everyone else. Yes, I knew Skinny was there, fuelling her self-hatred, but she really was oblivious to everyone else's feelings, and just felt sorry for herself. Other characters had a pretty bad, too, and I don't think that was highlighted enough. It also annoyed me at the end when she was suddenly this gorgeous, thin girl with this amazing voice - and she completely believed it. Instead of being wrapped up in self-hatred, she was blinded by how changed she was, and all she seemed to go on about was how "pretty" she was and how her singing voice was so fabulous and ugh. I hate characters who are gorgeous and are totally aware of it but pretend not to be. I'm sure the point of it was to show the slow progression from hating to loving herself, but it was just annoying in the end.
However, I loved the characterisation of Rat. Oh my god, he was the most adorable thing. I think Cooner characterised the ultimate best friend - nerdy, but wonderful. He adored Ever from start to finish, and I honestly think he had the patience of a Saint. She was so horrible to him, and he didn't even flinch. A tad bit unrealistic, but with quite a realistic and scary subject matter, I suppose a little lack of realism is good.
Although I think Cooner tackled the topic of weight well, along with the reaction of the high school students (when she was fat, everyone ignored her; she loses weight and she is suddenly a somebody. Sad, but realistic), the message she was trying to send didn't sit so well with me. Gastric bypass surgery is a pretty big thing, and although I know she was drawing from her own experiences, I thought it was a bad message to send out - that you need this surgery to lose weight and to improve your life. It isn't true. Ever constantly snacked throughout any diet, which was why it didn't work, and I don't think that was made clear enough. If you eat healthily and do exercise, you will lose weight, and I would have much rather read a book sending out that message, rather than that the easiest option is surgery.
Overall, it was good - Cooner clearly and cleverly portrayed the thoughts of teenagers and how negative we can be about ourselves and our appearances. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, as I think I wanted to feel the revelation and the change alongside Ever, which I didn't - but it was still good.
This could have been a really good book for girls who are overweight - instead it's too obvious, too facile. As someone who has struggled with weight all her life (ranging from "stocky" to "obese") I was hoping that this would really speak to my teen self. It didn't even whisper.
First, it's a rare person for whom the weight is the only issue. There are deep psychological concerns behind the gain (and it's touched on here - the death of Ever's mother and her weight issues) that need to be dealt with; here, once the surgery happens and weight loss begins, suddenly those issues vanish? Not likely.
Second, I have a cousin who had the exact surgery Ever has. Pre-surgery was filled with so many tests, physical and psychological, that it was virtually a full-time job for her (my cousin). Post-surgery there were daily check-ins with a nurse, personal training with a qualified trainer and bi-weekly group support sessions. And seeing a psychologist? Required both pre- and post-surgery. Ever apparently skates through the process with none of that, which is either a really bad medical plan, or unrealistic writing/sheer ignorance on the author's part.
Third, the characters surrounding Ever are so slightly drawn compared to Ever. The love triangle between Rat, Ever and Jackson is obvious, as is Ever's obliviousness to Brielle's actually being nice and possibly a friend. For all Ever's issues, that she is all too ready to believe that Whitney is suddenly a BFF rings false. This is where Skinny's voice should have been heard loud and clear, but nope.
The author's note about having been through the gastric bypass surgery was interesting, but her portrayal of Ever's journey is just unbelievable.
ARC provided by publisher.
First, it's a rare person for whom the weight is the only issue. There are deep psychological concerns behind the gain (and it's touched on here - the death of Ever's mother and her weight issues) that need to be dealt with; here, once the surgery happens and weight loss begins, suddenly those issues vanish? Not likely.
Second, I have a cousin who had the exact surgery Ever has. Pre-surgery was filled with so many tests, physical and psychological, that it was virtually a full-time job for her (my cousin). Post-surgery there were daily check-ins with a nurse, personal training with a qualified trainer and bi-weekly group support sessions. And seeing a psychologist? Required both pre- and post-surgery. Ever apparently skates through the process with none of that, which is either a really bad medical plan, or unrealistic writing/sheer ignorance on the author's part.
Third, the characters surrounding Ever are so slightly drawn compared to Ever. The love triangle between Rat, Ever and Jackson is obvious, as is Ever's obliviousness to Brielle's actually being nice and possibly a friend. For all Ever's issues, that she is all too ready to believe that Whitney is suddenly a BFF rings false. This is where Skinny's voice should have been heard loud and clear, but nope.
The author's note about having been through the gastric bypass surgery was interesting, but her portrayal of Ever's journey is just unbelievable.
ARC provided by publisher.